MXPA96002626A

MXPA96002626A - Cleaning of surfaces sumergi

Info

Publication number: MXPA96002626A
Application number: MXPA/A/1996/002626A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Edward Moore Michael; Johannes Van Der Meyden Hendrikus
Original assignee: Sweepy International Sa
Priority date: 1995-07-07
Filing date: 1996-07-04
Publication date: 1998-01-01

Abstract

The present invention relates to an accessory for an automatic swimming pool cleaner, in order to increase the randomness of the movement of a pool cleaner suction head, and also a method thereof. The method comprises making a loop in a section of the cleaning hose and letting the hose sections going towards the loop vary in length. Particularly, the section of hose that goes from the pump to the loop is varied. The accessory comprises two connection pieces, one to connect to each respective section of hose to form the necessary hose loop. Preferably one of the two pieces is slidable along the length of the hose to allow the hose to vary in length. The sliding action of the hose occurs between two stops in the hose section, and a ratchet mechanism is provided to allow the sliding to occur in a direction toward a stop. The contact with the stop makes the ratchet mechanism change and slide the hose in the opposite direction

Description

CLEANING OF SUBMERGED SURFACES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to a method for controlling submerged surface cleaning devices and accessories therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In particular, the accessory is suitable for use with devices for cleaning submerged surfaces that operate with a suction head that moves along the submerged surface. The water or liquid in which the device is immersed passes through the head along a hose to a pumping position. Matí coiiiujiiiiejl l tí títí t Otí I i nij íi íi l l; lt J J aß tía t 'oi l' ir 'c ± n. 'IID automatic pool cleaners are used to clean the submerged surface of the pools. Water sucked through the cleaning head and hose passes to the pool filter through normal operation of the filter pump. The suction head moves around the submerged surface in an approximately random pattern, but the coverage achieved in this way is not always good. In many cases, the cleaner P1189 / 96MX pools can settle in a regular pattern of movement, for example a figure of eight, or can move towards the corner of the pool farthest from the pump and either remain stuck there or move around this area. The applicant has reflected on this and believes that it is the result of what he calls "hose routing". That is, the tendency of the hose to direct the pool cleaner, at least to some degree, as opposed to the motive power of the pool cleaner itself, pulling the hose around the pool. The hose has a tendency to straighten itself, particularly in the section of hose that is immediately attached to the suction head of the pool cleaner. The difficulty of obtaining good coverage in a pool can be serious, in some cases can give a negative meaning to the utility of the automatic pool cleaner.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an attachment for a submerged surface cleaner, and a method for controlling a submerged surface cleaner that can resolve the difficulties before P1189 / 96MX mentioned.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with this invention, an accessory for a submerged surface cleaner is provided, comprising a connecting means having two pieces, each shaped to securely connect to a respective section of two adjacent sections of a submerged surface cleaner hose, in order to form a loop in the hose between the suction position and the suction head in use; at least a part of the loop is slidable, during use, along the section of hose to which it can be secured. It is also envisaged that there are hose coupling means which are located in the slidable part of the connecting means, and arranged to cause an intermittent sliding motion or with successive stops along that section of hose. The coupling means may have cam surfaces which cooperate with stops to reverse the direction of the slidable piece, using the reaction movement of the coupling means when encountering a stop. It is also envisioned that the coupling means is positioned to engage the spiral flanges of a conventional hose for submerged surfaces.

P1189 / 96MX Preferably, the two parts are connected by an articulated joint. In one case, the joint may comprise two transverse, flat pivot joints, which form a universal joint. Alternatively, the joint of a flexible material is provided so that it has a universal movement. Preferably, if a piece of the connecting means is slidable, it must refer to the part that is secured to a portion of the hose section further away., downstream, of the other piece and of the suction head in use. The invention extends to a stop mechanism that is to be placed on or near a hose and is positioned to stop the sliding movement of the slidable connecting piece in use. According to one aspect of the invention it is provided that the sliding part has at least one pair of arms with formations for coupling the hose at respective ends of the part, the arms can pivot about a middle position to allow only one formation of arm engage the hose in a coupling position each time, and that the arms have pushing means to push them over the center in order to couple the hose in a coupling position. According to this aspect, the Pl] 89 / 96MX use of a sliding part to cooperate with the stop mechanisms in order to reverse the direction of the sliding piece along the hose, the stops cause the arm in coupling with the hose to move in a pivoting manner to attach the opposite arm with the hose. Still in accordance with another aspect of the invention, it is provided that the sliding part comprises two pairs of arms in articulated connection around the hose in use, and having corresponding arms for coupling the hose at a respective end. Still in accordance with another aspect of the invention, it is provided that the arms have detents located at their respective ends to engage with the serrations of the hose. Still according to another aspect of the invention, it is provided that the stop mechanism is a tube having a radially tapered outer surface with slanted teeth, longitudinally and circumferentially spaced apart and sloped to the radially thick end; and that the stop mechanism is positioned, during use, so that the sliding part engages with the radially narrow end and is balanced towards the opposite stop position upon reaching the radially thick end. P1189 / 9b X According to a second aspect of the invention it is provided that the stop mechanism has slanted teeth that close toward an end stop surface; and that the end stop surface is arranged to engage with the projecting end of a double-ended ratchet and slides on one end of the ratchet out of engagement with the hose or stop projections, and simultaneously slides to the other end of the ratchet towards coupling with that stop and / or hose projection. The invention extends to a method for controlling the movement of a submerged surface cleaner, the cleaner operates in a liquid with a suction head that moves on the surface to be cleaned by the action of the liquid being sucked through. of the head along a hose connected to a pump, the method comprises looping a section of the hose between the pump and the suction head, about a connection position, to form a loop with one end of the loop passing from the connection position towards the suction head, and the other end passing from the connection position towards the pump, and letting the connection position move to alter the length of at least one of the ends of the loop. \ P1 189 / 96MX Preferably the two ends of the loop can change lengths by changing the connection position by sliding them along the length of the two sections of hose passing through it. In the case that only one of the sections or lengths is the one that can alter its length, it is preferred that this be the loop end connected to the pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The following describes the modalities of the present invention by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a side view of an accessory according to an embodiment of the invention; invention; Figure 2 is a side view of a hose stop for the accessory of Figure 2; Figure 3 is a diagrammatic plan view of the fitting and the stops of Figures 1 and 2 in operation, in a pool; and Figures 4 and 5 are views of parts of a second embodiment of an accessory according to the invention; Figure 6 is a plan view of an accessory according to a third embodiment of the invention; PL189 / 96MX Figure 7 is a sectional elevation view of the embodiment of Figure 6 and Figure 8 is a plan view of a stop for the embodiment of Figure 6.

DESCRIPTION DETAIL OF THE FIGURES With reference to Figure 1, a cleaning accessory (1) for swimming pools comprises: a first piece (2) of a length of sliding tube on a section of hose (3), and a second part (4) that is similar to the length of pipe and is slidable on a section of hose (5) . The parts (4) and (2) are pivotally connected in diametrical positions (6) to the brackets (7). The bases of the brackets are pivotally connected about an axis (8) to oscillate in a plane at right angles to the pivot plane of the pivot (6), in order to allow a substantially universal movement between the tube sections. The piece (4) has a sliding ratchet mechanism (10) having a middle section (11) slidable on the periphery of the tube (4) on the axis thereof, with each end having a coupling section inclined downwards (12). ) which is capable of being coupled, depending on its sliding position, with the spiral serration (15) of the section of hose (5) passing through the tube.

P1189 / 96MX Referring to Figure 2, a stop mechanism (20) is shown for, during use, being placed in pairs in a section of hose in order to confine the sliding movement of the accessory of Figure 1 to a length of hose between the two stops. The stop (20) comprises a tubular body (21) having a stop flange (22) extending radially towards one end, and an annular inclined tooth (23) around the other end. The teeth are tilted towards the top. At each end extending from the flange (22), and the end of the teeth (23), there is a gasket section (24) for clamping a hose end (25) to join the stop with the section of hose. When placed on a hose, the ratchet end (15) is coupled with successive spiral flanges on the hose to cause the piece of pipe (4) to move in a sliding direction. As the piece approaches the stop, the ratchet will engage the flanges 23 to force the tube to move positively against the stop 22 and to slide the ratchet, thus changing the direction of sliding of the tube. During use, the accessory (30) shown in Figure 3 is connected to a hose (31) of P1189 / 96MX pool cleaner. The hose is attached to a suction head (32) of pool cleaner to drive water through it to a pumping position (33) in a pool (34). The hose (31) is threaded through each of the two pieces of pipe, so that it can slide on the hose. The part (4) has the ratchet ends (12) coupled with the flanges of the hose. The section of hose that passes through the piece (4) has stops (35), as described in relation to Figure 2, located therein, with the serrations facing each other on the section of hose that is between them . As the pool cleaner is put into operation, the vibratory movement through the hose causes the pipe pieces (4) and (2) to slide along the length of the hose section, the part (4) being guided in one direction only at a time, until the piece has reacted against one of the stops (35) to go in the opposite direction. It has been found, in practice, that this alteration of the effective hose section, particularly between the position of the pump and the loop connection position, creates a greater randomness in the nature of the movement of the suction head (33) of the cleaner of pools. While the piece (2) will also slide, it is believed that the alteration of the length of the hose, P1189 / 96MX between the head (32) of the pool cleaner and the loop connection position, does not contribute much to the increase in random movement, since in the first approximately 1 meter of the hose, immediately after the suction cleaner , directs most of its energy to impart movement to the suction head itself. Referring now to Figures 4 and 5, an alternative embodiment of an accessory is shown. This accessory (40) is shown with a tubular section (41) which is slidable on a section of the hose (42) which is connected by a connecting strip (43) to a tube (44). The tube (44) carries the strip around its middle section and extends on each side of its middle section, in a hose connection (46), to receive the ends of a hose. The conductive tape (43) (Figure 5) is made of flexible plastic material, and has two rings (48) connected by a strip (49). The connection of the tube pieces (44) and (41) is achieved by placing the ring around the middle part of these pieces. The effect is that the accessory is secured in a non-slidable way to a hose section in position (44), but in a slidable way through the tube (41) to the other section. The movement between P1 9 / 96MX two sections is universal in nature through the flexible strip (49). The movement of the pool cleaner serves to shorten or lengthen the sections of hose that pass through the piece of sliding tube (41), and serves to increase the random movement of the pool cleaner in use. A third movement of an accessory is shown in Figures 6 and 7. The attachment has a slidable part (60) and a non-slidable part (61) connected by a universal joint (62). The non-slidable part is in the form of a tube with a longitudinal strip removed to form a C-shaped clamp (63) in the end view. The clamp (65) has a flange (64) extending radially inward and extending through an arc and positioned centrally in the section of the clamp, on its inner surface. The clamp provides a resilient fit over the hose (not shown) and the flange engages a section of the groove between the spiral flanges of the hose, to prevent axial movement along the hose. The universal joint (62) comprises a spigot (65) extending from the slidable part, and movable within an opening (66) in the non-slidable part. The spike is retained in the opening P1189 / 96MX by means of a head (67), preferably formed by a screw and a washer. This arrangement allows both axial and rotational movement of the spike within the opening. The sliding piece (60) comprises two shells or shells (70, 71), which are articulated to each other (Figure 7). Each shell approximates two tubes divided longitudinally and joined in a pair of abutting ends (72, 73) to form a shallow "v" conformation, with the apex (74) of the "v" formed at the center of each longitudinal edge of the combined split tubes. The included angle of the "v" conformation is obtuse. The cuirasses are located with the respective longitudinal edges facing each other and the adjoining apices. The apexes are hinged to allow the breastplates to pivot between two stop positions. In one of the stop positions the opposite longitudinal edges (75, 76) of the shells on one side of the pivot abut and the opposite ends (77, 78) on the other side of the pivot diverge away from each other. In the other stop position the longitudinal edges of the opposite ends (77, 78) abut and the opposite ends of the other side of the pivot diverge away from each other. The seals (79) are placed on the surface P1189 / 96MX operatively internal (80) of the respective ends of each shell. The seals are in the form of teeth that project inward. A C-shaped spring (81) acts in the center of each shell in the gap formed by the "v" to push the breastplates together. The spring provides a thrust on the center, which causes the shell to assume either of the two stopping positions. During use, the detents at the opposite ends of the shell which are in a stop position, engage the serrations (82) in the hose (83) causing the axial movement and step by step of the slidable part, along the the 'hose in the direction of the adjoining ends. A stop mechanism according to this embodiment is shown in Figure 8 and is a tube (90) having a radially tapered outer surface with teeth (91) inclined and separated in circumferential and longitudinal fashion, forming a slope towards the radially thick end (92). The joint or junction sections (93, 94) form each tube end to secure the tube ends (83) and place the stop on the hose section. A stop mechanism is placed, during use, with the radially narrow end (95) towards the sliding piece. The seals in the sliding part, in P1J 89 / 96MX coupling with the serrations of the hose, they will be coupled with the inclined teeth in the stop mechanism and the corresponding shells will be forced to separate as the sliding part of the shell ends move to the taper of the stop. Upon reaching the radially thick end, the shells move to pivot by pushing on the center towards the opposite rest stop position, and the sliding piece begins to travel in the opposite direction. The invention is considered to provide a simple and effective method and apparatus for use in a pool cleaner, or in any submerged surface cleaner operating with the same general principle.

P1189 / 96MX

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the present invention, it is considered as a novelty and, therefore, the content of the following CLAIMS is claimed as property; An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner comprising a connection means formed of two pieces, each shaped to be secured to a respective section of two adjacent sections of a submerged surface cleaner hose, in order to form a loop in the hose, between a suction position and the suction head.
2. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one part is arranged so as to remain displaceable, in use, along the section of hose to which it can be secured.
3. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 2, characterized in that the hose coupling means is placed on the parts of the connection means.
4. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 3, characterized in that at least the first hose coupling means is positioned to cause the P1189 / 96MX slider movement intermittent or with breaks, along the hose section.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 4, wherein the slidable part is positioned to cooperate, during use, with the stop mechanisms separated on the hose, to reverse the direction of the disposable piece along of the hose and between the mechanisms of the stop.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 5, characterized in that the first coupling means has cam surfaces which can cooperate with the stops of the hose, during use, to reverse the direction of the slidable part when the Slidable movement of a cam surface causes the cam surface to engage with a stop.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 6, characterized in that the first coupling means includes at least one ratchet mechanism, designed to couple spiral flanges in a conventional hose of a submerged surface cleaner, during use , in order to slide the sliding part in one direction.
8. An accessory for a cleaner P1189 / 96MX submerged surfaces according to claim 7, wherein the coupling means has a ratchet mechanism at each end, each mechanism is designed to slide the sliding piece coupled thereto, with rims in a pool cleaner hose in use, in one opposite direction to the other.
9. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 1, characterized in that the two pieces are connected by an articulated joint.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 9, characterized in that the joint is a universal joint made of a flexible material.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 10, characterized in that the slidable part can be secured to a portion of the hose section further downstream of the other part and the suction end in use.
12. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 8, characterized in that the first coupling means has at least one pair of arms that extend in an opposite manner with ratchet mechanisms for coupling the hose at respective ends of the part. . P1 J 89 / 96MX
13. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 12, characterized in that at least one pair of arms can be pivotably pivoted about a middle position, to allow only one of the ratchet mechanisms to engage at the same time. hose in a coupling position.
14. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 13, characterized in that a pair of arms have a pushing means that pushes them on the center to allow the ratchet mechanisms to couple the hose in a coupling position at a time.
15. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 14, characterized in that the stops are shaped to cause an arm, with its ratchet mechanism in engagement with the hose, to pivot and disengage, and cause the ratchet mechanism of the opposite arm engages the hose.
16. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that each arm of a pair of sliding parts is essentially in the form of a divided tube. P1 189 / 96MX longitudinally extending away from each arm to include an obtuse angle therebetween, and to form an apex at each opposite lateral edge of the angle.
17. An attachment for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 16, characterized in that the arms of a pair have ratchet retainers positioned at their respective ends for coupling the spiral flanges in a conventional pool cleaner hose.
18. An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 17, characterized in that the slidable part has a second pair of arms, essentially identical, without ratchet detents, the two pairs of arms are placed together with the hollow sides facing each other , having the apices of a respective side abutting and being articulated to each other to allow the opposite arms on each side of the apices to swing together and in separation.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 18, characterized in that the stop mechanism is a tube having a radially tapered outer surface with slanted teeth, spaced circumferentially and longitudinally, forming a slope towards the end P1189 / 96MX radially thick.
An accessory for a submerged surface cleaner according to claim 19, characterized in that the stop mechanism can be placed, in use, so that the arm ends in a coupled position engage the radially narrow stop end and swing in distance between themselves and outside their. coupling position, when reaching the radially thick end.
21. A stop mechanism according to the claim 12, characterized in that the arm is slidable substantially in the length of the hose and the stops of the hose are shaped to cause an arm with its ratchet mechanism in engagement with the hose, to slide and disengage and cause the ratchet mechanism opposite of the arm is attached to the hose.
22. A method for controlling the movement of a submerged surface cleaner, wherein the cleaner operates in a liquid by means of a suction head that moves on the surface to be cleaned, by the action of the liquid being sucked into the liquid. Through the head along a hose connected to a pump, the method comprises making a loop in a section of hose between the pump and the suction head around P1189 / 96MX from a connection position, to form a loop with one end of it passing from the connection position towards the suction head and the other end passing from the connection position towards the pump, and allowing the connection position move and alter the length of at least one end of the loop.
23. A method according to claim 21, characterized in that the two ends of the loop can change length thereby changing the connection position by sliding along the length of the two hose sections passing through it.
A method according to claim 23, characterized in that one of the ends of the loop can change its length by changing the connection position by sliding along the length of the hose section passing through that connection position, being that connection position furthest downstream of the other connection position and of the suction head.
25. A method according to claim 24, characterized in that the changing connection position allows the hose loop to slide through the connection position along a length of hose that is placed between the stop positions of the hose. the hose .
26. A method according to claim 25, P1U 89/96 X characterized in that the hose slides through the connection position in one direction until the connection position reaches a stop, and then reverses the direction until the other stop is reached.
27. A method according to claim 26, wherein the unidirectional sliding of the hose through the connection position is achieved by a ratchet mechanism acting on the spiral flanges of a conventional pool cleaner hose. A method according to claim 22, characterized in that the ratchet mechanism can be switched by a contact with a stop to direct the sliding of the hose in the opposite direction. A method according to claim 28, characterized in that a ratchet catch is placed on each end of an arm and the arm contact with the stop mechanism disengages the ratchet catch at the stop end and engages the ratchet at the end opposite to reverse the direction of sliding. fl L89 / 96MX